The latest Manchester United transfer news as Kobbie Mainoo wanted to leave the club on loan during the summer transfer window
On potential destination for Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo in the summer transfer window just gone has emerged (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Manchester United turned down the opportunity to do business with sister club OGC Nice in the summer transfer window, with reports in France saying that the club wanted to sign both Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo on loan.
Those transfers never happened, with Hojlund instead completing a move to Serie A side Napoli late in the window and Mainoo remaining at Old Trafford, despite asking to be let out on loan before the deadline.
French outlet Ici Azur reports that Nice were keen on signing the duo, but United instead offered them a different, unnamed youth player. Nice turned down that offer because it was believed the player wasn’t at the required level.
Like United, Nice are owned by INEOS, the company owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. He bought the Ligue 1 club in 2019, but reports earlier this year claimed that he is looking to sell the club.
United are one of several Premier League clubs that are part of a multi-club ownership model. But it seems that they are not taking the path of some of their rivals in using that to their advantage in the transfer window.
Chelsea’s Blue Co ownership also owns French club Strasbourg, with several deals taking place between the two sides over the last few transfer windows. Chelsea currently have three players in Mike Penders, Kendry Paez and Mamadou Sarr on loan with Strasbourg.
They have also completed permanent transfers for Mathis Amougou and Ben Chilwell to sign for the French club.
Despite both United and Nice being informed by UEFA that a ban on transfers between the two clubs had been lifted, it seems that United still aren’t keen on doing business with their sister club.
Speaking to L’Equipe earlier this month, Nice sporting director Florian Maurice said: “I spoke with Manchester United during the transfer window in order to try and find solutions. We envisaged things, like asking them to sign a player and then loaning us back, but their priority was to sell.”
When asked about the comparison to the Chelsea model, he said: “I don’t think that’s Manchester United’s model. We have only had one year where we have been able to regularly exchange with them.”
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